If you’re looking for a simple way to make your own DIY whipped body butter that’s non-greasy and perfect for keeping your skin soft and moisturized, this homemade body butter recipe is exactly what you need. Packed with natural ingredients and easy to whip up, you’ll love how this creamy body butter leaves your skin feeling silky smooth without the greasy residue.

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Why Whipped Body Butter?

Whipped body butter is an excellent alternative to store-bought lotions and creams. It’s made with rich butters and oils that hydrate dry skin and lock in moisture. Plus, you can customize the scent with your favorite essential oils or fragrance oils for a personal touch. The best part? You know exactly what’s going into your body products, making this a fantastic choice for those with sensitive skin or anyone looking to avoid synthetic chemicals.

The Recipe: How to Make Non-Greasy Whipped Body Butter

Ingredients

400 grams of refined or unrefined shea butter (you can substitute with mango butter or cocoa butter)
100 grams of avocado oil or olive oil
2 tablespoons arrowroot powder (for a non-greasy feel)
10 grams of the essential/fragrance oil of your choice
Optional: Vitamin E oil for added moisture

Equipment

Double boiler (or a heatproof glass bowl over a pot of simmering water)
Stand mixer, handheld mixer, or the mixer attachment on an immersion blender (I have recently purchased THIS stand mixer for all of my body care products and I LOVE it).
8 oz airtight container for storage

Instructions for DIY Whipped Body Butter

shea butter melting in a double broiler for DIY whipped body butter

Melt the Shea Butter

Start by melting 400 grams of shea butter in a double boiler over medium heat. Be sure to use a glass bowl or heatproof bowl to avoid damaging the ingredients. You can substitute mango butter or cocoa butter if you prefer a different scent or texture, but keep in mind that cocoa butter smells like cocoa beans and can add a natural smell to your finished product.

Prepare the Oil Mixture

Once the butter has melted, pour it into the bowl of a stand mixer (or any large heat proof bowl). Add 100 grams of avocado oil or olive oil. If you’re experimenting with other carrier oils, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, and sweet almond oil work great for this recipe. These light oils help to create a medium-weight butter that feels luxurious on the skin.

oils hardening in the freezer for DIY whipped body butter

Cool the Mixture

Place the oil mixture in the freezer for about 30 minutes, or until the rim begins to harden. You can also leave it at room temperature, but this will take longer. The goal is to let the oils start to solidify so they are easier to whip.

Whip It Up

Remove the mixture from the freezer and add 2 tablespoons of arrowroot powder. This is key for achieving a non-greasy whipped body butter. You can substitute with tapioca starch or arrowroot starch if you don’t have arrowroot powder on hand. Add 10 grams of your chosen essential or fragrance oils. Whip the mixture on medium heat for 3-5 minutes until soft peaks form. The whipped butter will be light and airy.

Transfer to a Container

Before the butter fully hardens, transfer it to an 8 oz airtight container. The finished product will continue to harden over time, but if you wait too long to transfer, it becomes difficult to scoop into the container. Store your homemade whipped body butter in a cool, dry place.

Oils and Butters: A Breakdown of Your Options

The great thing about homemade whipped body butter is the ability to customize it using different oils and butters to suit your skin type and preferences. Below, we’ll explore the benefits of some of the most popular ingredients you can use to make your whipped body butter.

Butters

Shea Butter
- Skin Benefits: Shea butter is rich in vitamins A, E, and fatty acids that deeply nourish and moisturize the skin. It’s known for its ability to soothe irritation, fight inflammation, and protect against environmental damage. Shea butter is great for sensitive skin and helps reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
- Texture: Shea butter is soft and creamy, making it easy to work with. It creates a medium-weight body butter that hydrates without feeling too heavy.
- Best for: Dry and sensitive skin, winter months, and long-term hydration.
Cocoa Butter
- Skin Benefits: Cocoa butter is packed with antioxidants and fatty acids that make it an excellent moisturizer. It’s particularly effective for improving skin elasticity and is often used to help reduce scars and stretch marks. Cocoa butter also has a naturally rich scent that many people love.
- Texture: This butter is firm and solid at room temperature, so it can result in a harder final product. Cocoa butter melts easily when applied to the skin, providing long-lasting moisture.
- Best for: Dry, flaky skin, and those who love a cocoa-scented product.
Mango Butter
- Skin Benefits: Mango butter is a lighter, non-greasy alternative to shea and cocoa butter. It’s packed with vitamins A and E, which help to boost skin elasticity and reduce fine lines. It’s also high in antioxidants that protect the skin from damage.
- Texture: It has a smooth and soft consistency, making it perfect for people who want a whipped body butter that’s light and easily absorbed into the skin.
- Best for: Oily or combination skin, and those seeking a lighter moisturizer.

Carrier Oils

Avocado Oil
- Skin Benefits: Avocado oil is rich in vitamins A, D, and E, making it an excellent choice for nourishing dry, sensitive, or mature skin. It also contains oleic acid, which helps the oil penetrate deeply into the skin.
- Best for: Dry and sensitive skin, stretch marks, and skin prone to redness or irritation.
Olive Oil
- Skin Benefits: Olive oil is packed with antioxidants, fatty acids, and vitamins that help soothe dry skin and reduce inflammation. It’s a heavier oil, so a small amount goes a long way.
- Best for: Dry skin, winter months, and those seeking deep hydration.
Sweet Almond Oil
- Skin Benefits: Sweet almond oil is light and gentle, making it perfect for all skin types, including sensitive skin. It’s rich in vitamins A and E and helps soothe irritation and deeply moisturize without clogging pores.
- Best for: All skin types, particularly sensitive skin.
Jojoba Oil
- Skin Benefits: Jojoba oil mimics the natural oils of the skin, making it an excellent choice for balancing oily or combination skin. It’s non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog pores, and it’s great for moisturizing and healing the skin.
- Best for: Oily or combination skin, acne-prone skin.
Grapeseed Oil
- Skin Benefits: Grapeseed oil is lightweight, non-greasy, and quickly absorbs into the skin. It’s high in antioxidants and vitamin E, which help fight free radicals and keep the skin youthful.
- Best for: Oily or acne-prone skin, and those seeking a lighter oil.

Tips for the Perfect Whipped Body Butter

Creating the perfect whipped body butter at home is easier than you think, especially when you have a few helpful tips to guide you. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned DIY enthusiast, these tips will help ensure your body butter turns out beautifully smooth, non-greasy, and long-lasting.

Choose the Right Butter for Your Skin Type

The type of butter you use will greatly affect the texture and benefits of your body butter. Shea butter is rich and creamy, making it a fantastic choice for dry skin, especially in the winter months. However, if you have oily or combination skin, you might prefer mango butter, which is lighter and less greasy. Cocoa butter adds a luxurious texture and natural scent, but keep in mind that it results in a firmer final product. Try blending different butters to customize the texture and benefits to your liking.

Tip: For a lighter body butter, mix shea butter with mango butter or avocado butter for a softer, non-greasy feel.

Incorporate the Right Carrier Oils

Choosing the right oil is just as important as choosing the right butter. If you’re aiming for a more lightweight whipped body butter, oils like jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, or grapeseed oil are excellent choices. They absorb quickly into the skin without leaving a heavy residue. On the other hand, if you’re looking for deep moisture, avocado oil and olive oil are great for dry skin but can feel heavier.

Tip: Try a combination of oils to balance texture and absorption. For instance, mix a heavier oil like olive oil with a lighter one like jojoba oil to get the best of both worlds.

Use Arrowroot Powder for a Non-Greasy Feel

The secret to creating a body butter that doesn’t leave a greasy residue on the skin is arrowroot powder (or tapioca starch). Arrowroot powder helps absorb excess oil, leaving your skin feeling smooth and dry to the touch. This is especially important if you’re using heavier butters or oils.

Tip: Start with 2 tablespoons of arrowroot powder, but you can increase the amount slightly if you find that your body butter still feels too oily. Just be careful not to add too much, as this can affect the final texture.

Don’t Over-Chill the Mixture

When you place the oil and butter mixture in the freezer, it’s important not to leave it in for too long. The goal is to let the rim of the mixture solidify while keeping the center soft. This makes it easier to whip into a light, fluffy texture. If the mixture hardens completely, it will be more difficult to whip, and you may end up with a grainy texture.

Tip: Check your mixture after 20-30 minutes. The sides should be slightly firm, but the center should still be soft enough to mix easily.

Whip on Medium Speed for Light, Airy Texture

The key to getting soft peaks and that lovely whipped consistency is to whip the mixture on medium speed for 3-5 minutes. If you whip it too fast, the oils can become too aerated, leading to a body butter that feels foamy or collapses. On the other hand, whipping too slowly may not incorporate enough air, resulting in a dense, heavier product.

Customize Your Scent

One of the best things about homemade body butter is the ability to customize the scent to your preferences. You can add essential oils like lavender, peppermint, or citrus to create a relaxing, invigorating, or uplifting aroma. Just remember that essential oils are potent, so a little goes a long way! Also, if I am using fragrance oils I tend to buy them from HERE.

Tip: Start with 10 grams of essential oil, then adjust to your liking. If you’re making body butter as a gift or for sensitive skin, stick with milder oils like lavender or chamomile.

Fill Containers Before the Butter Hardens

Once whipped, the body butter will be soft and airy, but it will continue to harden as it cools. It’s much easier to transfer the whipped butter into containers while it’s still soft. If you wait until it’s fully hardened, you’ll have a difficult time filling your jars or containers without losing that fluffy texture.

Tip: Use a spatula to scoop the whipped body butter into your containers while it’s still soft. If it starts to harden, gently re-whip for a few seconds to soften it back up.

Store in a Cool, Dry Place

Your whipped body butter will have a longer shelf life if stored properly. An airtight container will protect it from moisture and air, which can cause the oils to go rancid faster. It’s also best to keep your body butter in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight or heat, which can cause it to melt or separate.

Tip: If you live in a hot climate, consider storing your whipped body butter in the fridge during warmer months to help maintain its consistency and freshness.

Consider Adding Vitamin E for Extra Moisture

Vitamin E oil is a great addition to homemade body butter. It not only helps extend the shelf life of your body butter by acting as a natural preservative, but it also offers added moisturizing benefits. Vitamin E is known for its ability to heal and protect the skin, making it a wonderful ingredient for dry or sensitive skin.

Tip: Add about 1-2 teaspoons of Vitamin E oil to your mixture for an added boost of moisture and skin protection.

Experiment with Other Natural Additions

Feel free to get creative with your body butter! You can add aloe vera gel for additional hydration, or even cocoa butter for its rich, chocolatey scent. Some people like to add small amounts of other butters like avocado or cupuacu butter for their unique skin benefits. Additionally, adding light oils such as grapeseed or apricot kernel oil can change the feel of your body butter and create a more customized product.

Tip: Start by experimenting with small amounts of new ingredients to see how they affect the texture and absorption before incorporating them into the full recipe.

Conclusion

Making your own body butter is not only rewarding but also ensures you’re using the best natural ingredients for your skin. With this simple whipped body butter recipe, you’ll have a luxurious, non-greasy moisturizer that works wonders on dry skin—especially during those long winter months. Whether it’s for personal use or homemade gifts, this DIY whipped body butter is a great way to treat yourself and others to silky smooth, supple skin.